Box Score WASHINGTON, Pa. --
Adam LaRue (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to put the Washington & Jefferson baseball team ahead for good, 7-6, over Case Western Reserve in the 2017 season opener on Saturday, March 4 in nonconference action.
After the Presidents surrendered three runs in the top of the seventh inning to fall behind 6-2,
Jake Gordon (Hatfield, Pa./Pennridge) started a seventh inning rally with a one-out single through the left side. After a pop out for the second out,
Luke Zahren (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) reached on a walk followed by a catcher's interference to put LaRue on first and load the bases.
Derek Helbing (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) then reached on a fielder's choice as the second baseman and shortstop were unable to record the third out at second, allowing Gordon to score.
Nick Vento (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) proceeded to single up the middle, scoring Zahren and LaRue, as the Presidents trailed just 6-5 with two runners still on base. After a walk to load the bases,
Mark Merlino (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) also reached on catcher's interference, allowing Helbing to score to tie the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, Gordon led off with a walk and
Nick Gatins (North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) reached on an error after laying down a sacrifice bunt.
Mullen Socha (Independence, Ohio/St. Ignatius) and
Dante Dalesandro (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) entered for Gordon and Gatins, respectively, as pinch runners and were advanced to third and second after a sacrifice bunt from Zahren to set up LaRue's go-ahead sacrifice fly.
Trailing 1-0, the Presidents scored their first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning when Helbing doubled home Gatins, who led off the inning with a walk, followed by an RBI single to right from Vento.
Vento and Helbing both finished the game with multiple RBI. Vento drove in three runs and went 2-for-3 at the plate while Helbing finished with one hit, two RBI and two runs scored.
Santino Platt (Pittsburgh, Pa./OLSH) (1-0) earned the win on the mound for the Presidents as he pitched scoreless and hitless eighth and ninth innings to go along with three strikeouts.
The Presidents will look to sweep the weekend series against Case Western Reserve tomorrow, March 5, with the first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
